March 26, 2004
PALADINS TAKE EARLY LEAD IN FURMAN
INTERCOLLEGIATE;
BLANDFORD TIED ATOP LEADERBOARD
GREENVILLE, South Carolina -- Furman's Paladin golf team fired a first-round 286 on Friday at the 6,800-yard, par 72 Furman Golf Course, and holds a seven stroke lead over defending champion Virginia Tech entering Saturday's second round.
The Paladin squad was paced by sophomore T.J. Blandford (Paradise Valley, Ariz.), who carded a three-under 69 and is tied atop the leaderboard with Elon's James Hockman. Blandford's three-under effort, was strengthened by a one-under 71 by senior Matt Davidson (West Windsor, N.J.), a 72 by junior Rob Langley (Atlanta, Ga.), and a 74 by senior Buddy Davis (Orlando, Fla.). Freshman Robert Jamieson (Orlando, Fla.) carded a 77 in his first round of collegiate competition.
The Hokies of Virginia Tech fired a 293 Friday and were paced by Joel Kraner's 72, while Elon and Michigan are tied for third after a first-round 295. UNC Wilmington rounds out the top five at 297.
The Furman "B" team is 20th following a round one 314, but junior Shane Birckbichler of Travelers Rest, S.C., carded a 71 and is tied for fourth in the individual standings.
The two individual leaders took different routes to the top of the standings. Elon's Hockman teed off on No. 10 and recorded two bogeys and a birdie to make the turn at one over, then bogeyed hole one to go to two over. Over the course of his final six holes, however, Hockman made three birdies and an eagle (on the par five sixth hole) to finish at three under. Blandford, meanwhile, began his day on No. 1 and made birdies on the first, fifth, and 11th holes with no bogeys to also shoot 69. Entering round two there are 16 golfers within four strokes of the leaders, and 29 within five shots.
Round two of the 35th annual Furman Intercollegiate is slated for Saturday, beginning at 8 a.m. at the Furman Golf Course. Charlotte, East Carolina, and Davidson will tee of hole one beginning at 8:00, while Furman, Wofford, and Coastal Carolina tee off on No. 10. Furman's "B" team will begin teeing off No. 1 at 8:50 a.m.